Prime Video‘s adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie has locked in its principal cast, with Summer Howell and Samantha Sloyan taking the lead roles in the high-profile reimagining of King’s iconic horror novel.
The series is being shepherded by Mike Flanagan, known for his extensive work adapting King’s material into critically acclaimed screen projects.
Lead Roles Announced
Howell, best known for Cult of Chucky and Hallmark’s Crashing Through the Snow, will portray the title character—a teenager grappling with the onset of telekinetic powers and a hostile environment at home and school. Samantha Sloyan has been cast as Margaret White, Carrie’s fanatically religious and oppressive mother.
The casting of Howell marks a significant opportunity for the young actress to anchor a high-concept series built on psychological horror and social commentary.
Sloyan, meanwhile, brings a pedigree of complex performances in genre television that aligns with the tone and depth Flanagan is known to pursue.
Ensemble Cast Details
The ensemble also includes:
- Alison Thornton (School Spirits) as Chris Hargensen
- Thalia Dudek (Doctor Who) as Emaline
- Siena Agudong (Sidelined: The QB and Me) as Sue Snell
- Amber Midthunder (Prey, Legion) as Miss Desjardin
- Josie Totah (The Buccaneers) as Tina
- Arthur Conti (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) as Billy
- Joel Oulette (My Life With the Walter Boys) as Tommy
- Matthew Lillard (The Life of Chuck, Good Girls) as Principal Grayle
These casting choices reflect a blend of rising talent and seasoned performers, suggesting the series will balance youth-driven narrative arcs with more mature dramatic elements.
Flanagan and Sloyan’s Collaboration
The project marks another collaboration between Flanagan and Sloyan, who has appeared in several of the filmmaker’s previous titles, including Gerald’s Game, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Midnight Club, Midnight Mass, and The Haunting of Hill House.
Flanagan serves as writer and showrunner and will executive produce the series alongside longtime producing partner Trevor Macy under their Intrepid Pictures banner.
Flanagan and Sloyan’s creative relationship has yielded several fan-favorite performances and complex character portrayals.
Their continued partnership in Stephen King’s Carrie signals a commitment to thematic consistency and tonal fidelity in the adaptation.
Production and Source Material
Amazon MGM Studios, where Flanagan and Macy both hold overall deals, is producing the series.
Originally greenlit in April 2025, the show is described by Prime Video as a “bold and timely reimagining” of Stephen King’s Carrie, a novel first published in 1974.
The book has been adapted several times, most notably in Brian De Palma’s 1976 film starring Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie, which remains a benchmark in horror cinema.
King’s original narrative centered on bullying, religious fanaticism, and female adolescence, themes that remain potent in today’s cultural landscape. The new series aims to bring these issues into sharper focus for a contemporary audience, using Flanagan’s signature atmospheric tension and emotional depth.
Flanagan’s History with King Adaptations
Flanagan’s extensive relationship with King’s body of work adds another layer of intrigue to the project. He previously wrote and directed Doctor Sleep, the sequel to The Shining, and has adapted Gerald’s Game and The Life of Chuck.
Each adaptation under Flanagan’s direction has demonstrated a strong grasp of King’s tone, mixing dread with humanity. With Stephen King’s Carrie, Flanagan is expected to further explore the emotional isolation and supernatural escalation that defines the original novel.
Representation and Agency Info
Summer Howell and Samantha Sloyan are represented by The Characters Talent Agency and Link Entertainment, and SDB Partners, 11:11 Entertainment and Goodman Genow, respectively.
Other cast members bring varied experience and agency support:
- Thornton: Amplified, Red Management, Douglas R. Stone
- Dudek: Independent Talent Group (UK), 42 (US), Collective Talent (Australia)
- Agudong: Gersh, Trilogy Talent, Hirsch Wallerstein
- Midthunder: CAA, Corner Booth Entertainment, Jackoway Austen, 2PM Sharp
- Totah: Gersh, Entertainment 360, Imprint
- Conti: WME, The Artist Partnership, Shelter PR, Myman Greenspan
- Oulette: Darryl Mork Talent Management
- Lillard: Verve, Strand Entertainment, Heller Law
Anticipation Builds
With production progressing, anticipation is mounting around how Stephen King’s Carrie will be translated for modern viewers. The central themes of repression, peer cruelty, and vengeance retain relevance, particularly in the era of social media and heightened public scrutiny of adolescent mental health.
Prime Video has not yet confirmed a release date, but the involvement of Flanagan, along with a robust cast, positions the series as a major tentpole in its upcoming slate.
